Wanderer's Tale

From small beginnings . . . .

Following the explosion which destroyed the Temple of Tiamat and wiped out the vast undead army in the Stonelands, you found the following letter on the body of the Necromancer who controlled undead host.

Caravorn recognises the name “Rokanis” as being a Mecenary captain working out of Suzail.

11 Flamerule
Moshos,
It seems that the quarry I seek is in the Stonelands. With Amok and Rokanis draconians searching Cormyr, you are the closest available to destroy them. They are hidden to my scrying attempts so you will need to track them by more conventional methods.
Do not let this task interfere with Valarak or the Destroyer for the goals I have set them, though separate, are of equal importance to yours.
Bring me the scales and you will have my favour.
Baron X

Wild Magic and Soul Suckers

Caravorn Darkwalker met the party in the stonelands and, as tasked by her mistress Meilikki, set to guide them to a certain place.

The Party traveled among the dark and towering monoliths and rock towers of the Stonelands without much incident for three days without incident. It was within only an hours travel of their destination, a gigantic rock edifice, that the sky began to suddenly fill with roiling purple clouds. Blinding purple lightning bolts began to strike the rocks and plains around them. Their worst fears realised the party ha been caught in the midst of a Wild Magic storm.

Quickly they conferred, their destination seemed the safest place so they decided to run for it. Great arcing bolts of arcane lightning began to strike around them each manifesting in strange and unpredictable ways.

Thraxus narrowly escaped a bolt which blasted a great hole in the earth almost under his feet. The hole was about 80 feet on a side and formed a perfect cube.

At almost the same time a bolt stuck Skylar directly, the purple crackling bolt struck, went through and seemed to ground itself next to Skylar with a shattering crash of sound. When the dust settled Skylar was unharmed, but a living simulacrum of purple lightning was standing beside him, mirroring his movements.

The group had so slow their headlong rush when exhaustion from the hard running threatened some of the party, despite the storm thy moved to a walk dodging wild magic bolts where possible. Suddenly a bolt struck directly in front of them, the resultant crash and wave of magic culminated in a circular wall of fire 400 feet across and rising hundreds of feet in the air with the adventurers standing directly in the center. They waited for a chance or for the fire to die down. Another bolt struck on and snuffed out the flames for a hundred foot arc of the circle, at last a gap they could get through.

Thraxus saw something suspicious and threw a rock at the unnatural still grass and scrub ahead of them. Giving a warning he tossed a rock ahead,only to see the “grass” shatter into a million razor sharp fragments. The storm had transformed a wide patch of land into glass and crystal. Carefully they made they way through smashing and clearing a path with staves.

Now rested form the slower pace the party picked up to a run again. Thraxus was struck by a bolt which radiated it’s residual energy through him, leaving him glowing with slowly changing colours. Aelar found the sounds of a full orchestra ringing through the area centered upon him, the music changing according to his mood.

Thraxus described the glimpse he has seen an Caravorn informed thrm grimly that they appeared to have attracted the attention of a Soul Sucker, a mutated magical creature which fed off the life energy of any creature it came across.

With that the Soul Sucker burst out of the ground under them send forth a deadly cloud of metallic spikes and attempting to gather Thraxus into it’s thrashing mandibles. Aelar managed to get off a frost spell which caused the creature to recoil in pain. Viciously it resumed the attack focusing on the mage. Suddenly another Soul Sucker burst form the ground near them, While Thraxus moved to deal with the new threat, Skylar moved to help Aelar. attacking and injuring the creature The injured Soul Sucker retreated only to be felled by an arrow from Thraxus

The second creature tok advantage of this distraction to attack the mage, the great mandibles grabbed Aelar crushing him and holding him fast. rubbery tendrils snaked their way into gaps in his clothing, puncturing his skin and draining blood and life from him. Aelar collapsed unconscious and dying as the vile creature continued to drain him. Skylar managed to get a restorative spell into Aelar bringing him back into the fight, Aelar triggered a teleportation device leaving the Soul Sucker clutching at empty air.

Hit and injured again the beast reflexively sent a spray of metal spikes arcing into the surrounding adversaries. The spikes dazed most of the party and the creature quickly burrowed into the plain seeking to escape.

Anxiously the injured group waited for another attack, looking to the skies as rain and great purple lightning bolts continued to strike around them.

Seeing no further sign of the creature they hurried to the enormous rock pillar which was their destination, over 300 feet wide and reaching 1000 feet into the sky the pillar leaned slightly to the west, looking like a stone javelin of the Gods hurled deep into the earth. Cut into a switchback in the side of the pillar was a slippery narrow switchback of ancient looking stairs. The acutely angled stairway reached almost 200 feet up the sheer rock face, terminating in a solid looking stone door.

Roping themselves together with the most experienced climbers at front and back, the group slowly sidled up the treacherous path, attempting to ignore the sheer drop to one side. Skylars lightning doppleganger mirroring his movements in the empty air beyons the steps. Two thirds of the way up a bolt struck resulting in a wild magic surge which simultaneously saw Cara Darkwalkers hair instantly grow a foot in length., Thraxus feet grow to almost four times their normal size and laving a very surprised looking rust monster on the path in front of Skylar.

A brief struggle saw the rust monster close to dissolving Skylars armour and sword before to toppled off the steps into far down to the ground below.

Finally the bedraggled members of the party made it to the door. with a hefty shove they managed to push it open and they collapsed into the room beyond. Panting and recovering they pushed the heavy door shut and attempted to rest while taking sock of their surroundings.

Now that they had some time to rest some things became apparent, firstly the storm could have been far worse. Aelar hypothesized that it could be due to his and Skylars early childhood exposure to wild magic that they may have developed an affinity for it shielding them from the worst effects. Looking at Thraxus quietly glowing in the corner while looking despondently at his oversized feet, Skylars electric twin and the length of Cara;s hair, Aelar informed them that Wild Magic effects were often not permanent, in fact most would probably wear off soon , or at least when the storm passed . . ..probably

“It’s all quite exciting really isn’t it?”. His comments were underscored by the mournful sounds of a dirge softly played by a seemingly invisible orchestra siting all around them.

Thraxus noted that he had seen signs on the way up that the stairs had been carved over the top of an even older path which had would up the side of the rock face. Maybe where they were had previously been a natural cavern?

Giving their attention to the interior they saw worked an carved stone, maybe 5oo years old, faintly etched into the stone were sigils and symbols . . . with dread, Skylar recognised them, .it appeared that they were in the forecourt of a temple dedicated to Tiamat !!

Arrival in the big city

The Narwhal arrived in Cormyr in need of a full refit after its extended grounding. The Salty Dogs were busy on arrival in town with and managed to

Register Aelar with the War Wizards meeting none other than Vangerdahast

Get lost, twice!

Attempt to illegally change money in a bar
= Get drunk and insult none other than Lord High Marshal Bhereu Oboarskyr while obtaining Adventuring company charter

Register the Salty Dogs as an Adventuring Company in Cormyr for the sum of 1,000 gold crowns

Enter into an arrangement with the Dauntinghorn Family

Sold Matched Emeralds

Booked Luxury rooms at the Dragon’s Jaws

By the end of the day …..

Captain Pilchard has set up a meeting for you with the Dauntinghorn representative for any further Trade business you would like to carry out.

Aelar could use Mage Council facilities to enchant items, they’ll take a 5% cut of the cost but this does allow for the enchanting of Uncommon items. The cut could be reduced or waived in return for a valuable service for Vangrdahast.

For a muscular and wealth Half-Orc country bumpkin/uncultured sailor unlimited Shmoo-Schmoo is available – quite cheaply too !

You heard a rumour that the Gorgon’s Teeth is still in Cormyr, not sure if docked in Suzail of not yet.

Alexander the Wizards brother is in Cormyr, you don’t know where yet

Cormyr has a long history entwined with Dragons – it may be useful to research any connections with your friends and foes in this area

On the way back to the Inn the Dogs heard the screaming of a young girl, running around a corner she gasped out a plea fro help against the thugs who had broken into her family home and were assaulting her mother. The Dogs, with Karash in the lead rushed to her aid.

They found the door of the house and heard the crashing noise of furniture being smashed, running down the hallway they saw three burly men in a wrecked kitchen, a blond woman lying in a pool of blood at their feet.

Varesh then starts a chant which sends shivers down your spine. As the volume of the chant grows a golden light surrounds him, getting brighter and brighter until you can not look at him directly. The chant rises to a crescendo as he bellows the name of Bahamut and with a soundless implosion the light disappears and in its wake a glittering rain of golden scales falls about you. . . .of the Dragonborn Priest there is no sign. He is gone.

(treat as long rest including levels if available) also the blessing of Bahamut is upon you +2 on attacks for 24 hours.
__

Gazrak looks sadly at the place where his companion had stood, muttering a barely heard prayer. Then he stands and readies his weapon.

You barely have time to do the items which you have been given when the room darkens and swirls, you find yourself in another room. a voice echoes around you

So you have finally freed the last of the shards and given me the power to be free of this accursed prison, Thank you for your efforts. You must be feeling a little weary after your struggles, let me end your pain . . . in death

With that Draconians start pouring through the two doors, spears at the ready and proceed to attack.

The story from Gazrak the Dragonborn:

Our History

“In another place there are Dragons, The land swarms with the Folk of the Dragon. For Millennia on uncounted Millennia the Folk lived in peace, ruled by the Mighty Great Wyrm Glaadnafwyr The Golden and his celestial Council. The land prospered and great works of both Nature and Magic transformed the land into a paradise where each had their place and the needs of all were provided.

Dragonkind and the council worked in peace and harmony. They soared over the lands protecting and helping the lesser creatures who were also beloved of the Dragon Gods. The Council and their kind were bound by Bahamut himself to protect those who were weaker and less able to carry out the mighty works of the Celestial Council. These creatures includes the playful Dragons of Faerie, The harmless (but not terribly bright) wyverns, The servitor Kobolds, The Drakes and, the most cherished by the greater Dragon races, The Dragonborn, of whom I am the least."

The Betrayal

“Sadly even in the hearts of the mighty darkness can grow and so it was that Glaadnafwyr and the Celestial council were betrayed. Awazathenoth, The Mithral Lord, listened to the poisoning whispers of Tiamat and unbeknownst to the rest of the council began to plan and plot their demise. The planning was long and careful, He took many centuries to create his plan to conquer all and rule as the mortal right hand of Tiamat.

It transpired later that Awazathenoth had suborned a number of council members and, with the assistance of the mightiest of them began his perversion of Dragonkind. He started in the farthest lands and with the lowliest kinds. First he began to alter the spirit of the short lived Wyvern race. Each generation became more bestial and aggressive, he committed unspeakable acts of Necromancy with the more powerful of his followers creating a hidden Army of Drocolich. Then he started on the weakest of Dragonkind, The Dragonborn. The Dragonborn were subject to the basest and most vile of enchantments and one in two of their eggs began to fail at hatching time. the priests collected the failed eggs and gave them to their proper resting place in the temples of the unborn. It was from here that the eggs were stolen . . . and . . changed.

Awazathenoth created a new race which was a perversion of all the council stood for, he called them Draconians. These he bred for war. Thousands upon thousands were trained and raised in the farthest reaches of the lands . . . and still the council knew nothing, for those whose duty it was to report on such things were part of the monstrous plot to overthrow the rest of the council.

Then only a single century ago, Awazathenoth struck. His massed armies struck at the heart of the council lands taking the peaceful with utter surprise. He attempted to destroy all of those on the council who it was known would never bow to him and his dark mistress. Unfortunately he had miscalculated the might of Glaadnafwyr and the most stalwart of his advisers and Glaadnafwyr, sorely wounded, escaped. Alas, only a handful of the rightful council escaped with him, leaving the Awazathenoth holding the field."

The Despair

“Then, the purge began. Awazathenoth began the systematic and utter destruction of those who would not bow to Tiamat. At this time the true nature of Awazathenoth became revealed in his appearance and he became known as Awazathenoth the black.

Many fought back while Glaadnafwyr recovered from his grievous wounds, but slowly over years, they were pushed back . . . and back . . towards the Iron Ramparts in the Golden Peaks. Glaadnafwyr and his lieutenants knew that it was only a matter of time before all were defeated, ensuring either death or slavery into the bonds of Tiamat."

Hope

“Deep in Prayer Glaadnafwyr received a vision From Bahamut showing how he could salvage some victory and still move to sit beside Bahamut in the Celestial Heavens. To this end he took his most trusted Councillor and they began a great magic. Ammassazz, his most trusted Councillor then disappeared from the Lands and was seen no more. This was 10 years ago.

In those ten years things have changed for the worse. Glaadnafwyr and his council seemed greatly weakened, The forces of Awazathenoth ever stronger and more destructive."

The Present

I was one of a group chosen by Glaadnafwyr for a mission. A strange mission. I deem it time to reveal to you what that is.

It seems that when Ammassazz disappeared it was at the behest of Glaadnafwyr and a result of his vision from Bahamut. Ammassazz was transported not only through the planes but also across time. Much of the power of the council was expended in his transportation. Another portion of the councils might was invested in tokens of Great Power which were deemed essential for the completion of the mission assigned Ammassazz. The mission is both a grim one and one of hope.

You see Glaadnafwyr knew that defeat was inevitable and that hope could only come from the saving of a core of his people. To save them they would have to depart their known world to another, bit this would need to be done in such a way as to stop the vile minions of Tiamat from following.

Ammassazz was chosen to be the opener of ways to preserve the people of the Dragon and had been granted tokens which would allow the transportation of the people to another place, while at the same time closing the porous boundary to their home, effectively sealing it from any further intraplanar travel. This great Magic is powered by the life-force of the mightiest of Dragonkind . . . who are sacrificing all in order to save the lowliest.

The timing and conditions had to be perfect and as part of the greater vision Glaadnafwyr saw that Ammassazz would need much time to prepare. This is the world chosen, The time is near.

It seems that recently Awazathenoth determined what Glaadnafwyr was trying to accomplish and set out to ruin his plan. The balance of forces both spiritual and magical is such that only the lesser forces for Tiamat or Glaadnafwyr can pass through.

Awazathenoth devoted some of his power to parting the veil between worlds and sent some of his Draconian scum through to find Ammassazz and disrupt his plans. They have been here discussed and searching for some time. Ammassazz foresaw this and set the tokens in dispersed areas under strong wards to prevent their corruption by Awazathenoth. When Glaadnafwyr found out he send a handful of his stalwarts through to stop them. Unfortunately Glaadnafwyr has been spending of his life-force freely and he could not summon the power to send many of us here. Some have perished carrying out their duties, others are finding and destroying the Draconian as they are able, we are outnumbered but have the fate of our people resting upon us. Nothing, Nothing but death will stop us.

Some of the relics which Ammassazz had hidden have . . . warped . . . time and the planes around them, creating pockets which are out of time, or out of the known dimensions. This is one such place and I had thought that I might forward the ends of Glaadnafwyr by being here. Indeed at least one of the relics is here . . . .I also sense that you are deeply involved in the plans of Ammassazz. For this I wish you well and every success.

These relics . . . their true power comes only when joined, in their inactivated state they look like simple scales, one for each of colour the Chromatic Dragons, one for each colour of the Rainbow. Their purpose and powers will become known to those they chose to wield them . . . . and I see that so far they have chosen well.

I have my own role to play for Bahamut and will go on my way. Karavakos holds one of the scales.

When all of the scales are together again, at the right time, and in the right place, then will my people be saved. Should you need my aid at any time I will do my utmost to assist you By my hope of life, love and freedom for me people and upon the Platinum sales of Bahamut I do so swear.

Before I go I will cast the blessing of Bahamut on the relics you possess, We will meet again when the time is right."